March « 2007 « Outhouse Studios Weblog

Archive for March, 2007

Simply Conveyed

Tuesday, March 27th, 2007

looks done versus being done

Grape Rows & Mountains – digital painting / art prints- Dan Beck 2005

Irrigate 1 – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2004

There is a quality that both of these digital paintings share. They have a similar amount of detail, a similar amount of translucence, a similar amount of simplicity in conveying what was there.

Looking at my work, I tend to take things further most of the time these days. Adding texture and shading and whatever else I can think to throw at it.

Every artist knows that knowing when to quit is probably as important as beginning – but part of creating art is being true to oneself and one’s vision. You have to feel like you are done as well.

With the two paintings above, I knew they were done – sometimes I know something looks done, but I am not done – so I must continue. I am sure there is a life lesson in here somewhere, but since I am not seeing it, I must continue.

Music Art Continuum

Sunday, March 25th, 2007

Time, Space, and the Endlessness of Creativity

Jazz 3 – digital painting and art prints – 2005 – Dan Beck

Music exists in time and space, but not so much in vision – though one might not know that with the advent of music videos and of course live performance from the get-go.

It is not two dimensional and it is more than three – and I am not sure exactly why I say that. But like vision it can stay with us and reappear at a later time even though it is long gone.

How the above is like music is a tough call, but I know it to be. I know it was about the music I was listening to – moving to the beat and feeling the place inside.

Sometimes I feel art is time based as well – only working in a certain place and time – but creativity fortunately seems to be endless.

Gentle Blades of Spring

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

quilted blades and aerial spray have added meaning

Quilted Spray - art prints / digital painting – Dan Beck – 2005

I am featuring this piece today – one because I gallery chanced and image rouletted upon it and two because it is getting to that time of year. Spring is rampant here and pollen and every other allergen upon us – throw in a few sprays and who knows what the results might be.

I love my surrounded by fields setting, but I know I need to get out.

When I wrote about this digital painting before, one of the things I omitted was the ridiculousness of the blades of the helicopter – the seemingly most dangerous aspect of a helicopter. Everyone crouches even though they couldn’t hit them.

The blades have been turned into fabric here- quilted looking – thus making the spray – though cool and beautiful, appear even less safe.

One can always add meaning.

When Success Isn’t Measured

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

limits, language, and symbolism

Symbolic Language 7 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007

I thought this was pretty cool when I just finished – interesting, layer upon layer. I tried coloring only by tinting sections – the most subtle way of coloring I have at my disposal.

At the end, I couldn’t take it any more and changed my own rules adding some touches of pure color. But with all that I find the digital painting a bit too subtle and drab – but like the old joke – good though.

It was intended as an exercise, intended to be fun, intended to be unpressured learning – and it was.

I could probably do things to make it brighter – improve upon what is – but successes come in different forms – and the limits and language are intended to be symbolic of that as well.

Pulling the Eye Through

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

framed colors of world within the world

Sunset Startled – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2005

As I look at this today, I think how fun that there is a frame within the frame. Though it is true that this is what attracted me to the scene in part – it still pulls my eye under the tree to get there.

It remains simple, colorful, direct, and pleasing. And even the spaces between the fence pull one through.

It doesn’t pass for being literal but it hits the bulls-eye as far as one’s viewing the world within the world …

the metaphor for painting itself.

Sharing the Flame

Monday, March 19th, 2007

older work attempts virtual warmth

Fireplace – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2000

Here in California – there is a fireplace in my house. When I lived on the East Coast there were many I times I remember driving hours just to have one for a few days.

When I created this digital painting, I thought it would be fun to share my fireplace – I don’t think I actually possessed the technology to do that at the time – but I thought it a good idea nevertheless.

My development as a digital artist was not a strong as now – naturally, but it still shows a vibrancy, an enthusiasm, and a fun take on flame and brick.

In light of blizzards and other cold weather, I offer it up again …

as a virtual fireplace.

Digital Painting Revisited

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

more or less of reality can still capture feeling

Foothill Views – Digital Painting / Art Prints -2005

Well once I again, I am writing about a piece I have thoroughly discussed.

I write because I stumbled upon it today. I write because there is always something more to be said about a painting I like – and particularly one I like and created.

The rows are less perfect than the rows of reality. The patchwork is more blanket-like than the quilted hills themselves. The characters are more animated than the guys riding the tractor that day. My eye rolls up and down the hills even more than with the actual panorama.

But in two dimensions and a much smaller window – I have captured enough of the feeling of the area to enjoy being inside the painting.

I hope you are able to as well.

Art Before the Cart

Friday, March 16th, 2007

CD art before recording – digital art before purchasable prints

Red Eye Recordings – cover art – Dan Beck 2007

I like the phrase art before the cart – just like I enjoyed art cart rather than shopping cart.

I am hoping to record some of my music from the last year or so. I came up with the concept above for a CD because my eyes got infected and I felt well enough to play guitar and sing – and even felt quite inside the music.

I was also concerned about using my eyes too much – though obviously not so concerned that I didn’t do the art work first. So naturally – I have a cover without the recorded content. Well I have recorded one piece – to be shared another day.

The other aspect to this phrase “Art Before the Cart” is that there will always be new pieces of digital art on this site – visible but not set up for purchase – it is the way it is – despite my best intentions.

Expectations of impulsive got to have an art print of that digital painting having seen it once on the internet are not really mine – but please don’t hesitate to write if something strikes your fancy – just email or comment below.

Just thought it should be said…

Reading New Meaning

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

Pretending the Ides of March

Shape of Something New – digital painting / art prints – 2005

I took a quick scan through my images and looked for something representative of the betrayal of the Ides of March. The digital painting above has nothing to do with that – but it does look like that could be Caesar there on the ground -

So why not – meaning can always be added!

I suppose there might be a betrayal part as well – because though I looked at this as a possible new direction – I didn’t really pursue it. But then again as I think I wrote – though it seemed new to me personally – I didn’t think the piece was a particularly new genre.

In fact, as much as I like the piece and even find it original – it reminds me of many, many other works of art I have seen over the years.

Et tu, Brute?

Digital Medium and Vision Combine

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007

focus to harness an awkward imbalance

Field Fitting – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

I don’t know if one can tell by looking, but this was a challenge for the eyes to make. A lot of the piece was done by filling in lines – not like conventional painting but with the unique tools of the computer – yet really focusing on getting in between.

I am particularly partial to this digital painting – I think the composition is compelling – one feels like one is at the end of the precipice. The fields undulate – the colors are more real than real – and there is this wonderful awkward imbalance of the man positioning the irrigation pipes and trying to harness nature.

Perhaps I read too much – but then again – I think it speaks strongly about my own vision and style.

Outhouse Studios Weblog

Archive for March, 2007

Simply Conveyed

looks done versus being done

See Also

Music Art Continuum

Time, Space, and the Endlessness of Creativity

See Also

Gentle Blades of Spring

quilted blades and aerial spray have added meaning

See Also

When Success Isn’t Measured

limits, language, and symbolism

See Also

Pulling the Eye Through

framed colors of world within the world

See Also

Sharing the Flame

older work attempts virtual warmth

See Also

Digital Painting Revisited

more or less of reality can still capture feeling

See Also

Art Before the Cart

CD art before recording – digital art before purchasable prints

See Also

Reading New Meaning

Pretending the Ides of March

See Also

Digital Medium and Vision Combine

focus to harness an awkward imbalance

See Also

OuthouseStudios|Blog Home

Categories

Archives

Tag cloud

Meta